Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c14.7

c14.7

However, there were some small settlements of Muslims in Sind, Gujarat and the Malabar Coast. Parts of Sind were conquered by Muhammad bin Qasim Sakifi in A.D. 712. Whichever towns he took, like Alor, Nirun, Debul and Multan, in them he established mosques, appointed Muslim governors, and propagated the Muhammadan religion.³ In Debul, for instance, he enslaved and converted some women and children, and left a contigent of 4,000 Muhammadans to garrison the place.⁴ In Multan about 6,000 persons were made to accept Islam. Al Biladuri's narrative indicates that the people of Sawandari, Basmad, Kiraj, and Alor were converted in large numbers.⁵ The reports of Muhammad bin Qasim Sakifi to Hajjaj also point to large number of conversions.⁶ Caliph Umar wrote to some Indian rulers in A.D. 717 inviting them and their people in Sind and Hind to become Musalmans. It is said that in response to his appeal many people, 'turned Musalmans and took Arab names'.⁷